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Chapter 2: Research Methods in I/OLearning Objectives

• Understand the empirical research cycle.

• Know the relative advantages and disadvantages of the laboratory experiment, quasi-experiment, questionnaire, and observation research methods.

• Understand meta-analysis and qualitative research methods.

• Explain the statistical concepts of central tendency and variability.

• Understand the concept of correlation and its interpretation.

• Have an awareness and appreciation of the ethical issues associated with I/O psychological research.

• Understand the difference between academic-based and practitioner-based research.

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Chapter Summary

• Research is a means by which I/O psychologists understand issues associated with people at work.

• The four primary research methods used by I/O psychologists are experiments, quasiexperiments,questionnaires, and observation.

• The four primary research methods differ in their extent of control (potential for testing causal relationships) and realism (naturalness of the research setting).

• Meta-analysis is a secondary research method that is useful in integrating findings from previously conducted studies.

• I/O psychologists measure variables of interest and apply statistical analyses to understand the relationships among the variables.

• All psychological research is guided by a code of ethics that protects the rights of research participants.

• Research is conducted in both academic (university) and applied (organizational) settings, but usually for different purposes.

• As a profession, I/O psychology has a broad base of knowledge derived from both academic and applied research.

• There are cross-cultural differences in both people’s willingness to serve as research participants and their responses.